Student Research

The core
course for our program is “The Politics of War and Peace” in which all students
study one conflict extensively and write up a conflict report.These reports explain the basic elements of
the conflict, chose particularly important factors to explore in more depth in
the “Background” section, and also offer the student’s own short and long term
recommendations for resolving the conflict.

This project allows students to apply the tools they have developed in
their studies to analyze one conflict and develop their ideas for peace.We have decided to make these reports
available here to provide more information on peace and justice in our world,
as well as to share the excellent work our students are doing! For more
information about these conflict reports, please contact Professor Keally
McBride at kdmcbride@usfca.edu.

"Spanish colonialism, the War of a Thousand Days, and La Violencia are the three main eras of violence that have stained Colombia’s history with blood and have left its future unclear, unstable and insecure. During each period, certain root issues deepened and the conflict evolved into what is now being referred to as the War on Drugs..."

"The Naxalite movement has been one that has engaged an ideological battle for decades between the Indian Government and the communists within the nation... [and] since its inception, been linked to the tribal and peasant rebellions though the two remain exclusive..."

"Nineteen fifty-six marked the year of the discovery of oil in the diverse ecosystem of Nigeria' southern states. The following fifty years and onward encompasses the epitome of what is a 'resource curse' onto a region..."

"This report will expand on the issues of land tenure, discontent on the part of both religious and secular political actors, expanding Autonomy in the ARMM, and ethno-religious biases that have played key roles in perpetuating the conflict in the Southern Philippines..."

"While it is the Bangsamoro Muslims who find disaccord with their country's governmental system and structure, the work to implement their desires and find the best solution lies in the hands of everyone in the country, Muslim and Christian alike..."

"For the last three years, al-Shabab [as the militant arm of the Council of Islamic Courts] has been battling the Transitional Federal Government, claiming it is illegitimate and a puppet of Ethiopia..."

"...the piracy has developed into a new 'industry...' The terrible unemployment rate caused by the civil conflicts and undeveloped economy were forcing more and more people to participate in the expanding team of pirates..."

"Documents claiming the Fur genocide exist from as far back as the beginning of 2002. However, the crisis in Darfur only gained international attention in mid 2003 after reports described the atrocities of Arab horsemen pillaging black Sudanese villages..."

"The trouble with understanding the true ancient origins of Zimbabwe, is that when the British colonized the territory in the early 1900's, they forced historians to write a fake history of Zimbabwe to try to erase any African origins..."